Metallic lath construction



June 8, 1937. G. G. GREULICH METALLIC LA TH CONSTRUCTION Fil ed Oct. 17, 1936 bwezzhr: 67% 6. GEEUL/ H,

Patented June 8, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to metallic lath and particularly to that form which is known as expanded metal lath. c

An object of this invention is to provide for 5 overlapping and interlocking the ribs at any point, either at the sides or ends of the metal lath sheet and to maintain a constant and uniform spacing of the ribs throughout the entire area of the lath structure.

10 Another object is to provide a rib for a metallic lath having a small beaded top portion and an enlarged lower portion which will permit nesting of the small beaded top portion of one rib into the enlarged lower portion of another rib.

is With these and other advantages which will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds, in

which:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a slab reenforced with the lath of the present inven- 20 tion; s

' Figure 2 is a section, on an enlarged scale, through one of the ribs showing the use of a wheel for forcing the backing material into the rib;

25 Figure 3 is a section showing the step of pressing the beaded portion of the rib together; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed section showing the manner of overlapping and interlocking the ribs.

In the drawing, the reenforcing material on which I have shown my invention may comprise the usual lath having expanded mesh portions 2, separated by uniformly, spaced rib portions 3. A backing-sheet 4 is provided for the lath and 35 may comprise waterproof paper or any other suitable material. This backing-sheet may be embedded into the ribs 3 by suitable means, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

In Figure 2, the backing-sheet 4 is doubled 40 back upon itself and forced into the apex or beaded head-portion 5 of the rib by a roller 6. This action of doubling the backing sheet and forcing the same into the beaded portion of the rib is immediately followed by a crimping or pressing 45 operation upon the side walls of the rib which may be obtained by passing the rib between two cooperating rollers l, as shown in Figure 3. Such a step crimps or presses the walls of the metal ribs together and, at the same time, locks the 50 backing material 4 in a position within the beaded head-portion 5. The free end portions of the backing material 4 extend into the enlarged bellshaped portion 8 of the ribs, as shown in Figures 1 and 4:

To facilitate joining the sections of the lath together, in a lengthwise direction, the ribs are overlapped and interlocked, as shown in detail in Figure 4. To permit the overlapping and interlocking engagement of the end ribs of the respective sections, the ribs 3 are of a uniform construction and uniformly spaced along the metal lath 2 and comprise a lower or bottom portion 8 integral with the expanded mesh portions 2, and substantially bell-shaped in cross-section. Extending from the bell-shaped bottom portion 8, and integral therewith, is a small beaded headportion 5, By having the ribs of a uniform construction with the lower portion bell-shaped, it is possible to insert the beaded portion 5 of one rib within the bell-shaped portion 8 of another rib which permits overlapping and interlocking engagement of the ribsto produce a continuous unbroken area for the backing sheet 4,

Under the present construction, there is, therefore, presented a uniform construction for metal lath having ribs of, uniformity and spaced at equal distances over the entire area of the lath and, at the same time, as shown in Figure 1, an overlapping and interlocking of the ribs of the adjacent or adjoining sections of the lath. The enlarged bell-shaped lower portion 8 has sufiicient width to permit the insertion or nesting of the small beaded top portion 5 with enough clearance so that the material of the backing-sheet will not be damaged or dislodged if the sheets are pulled apart after nesting, such as occurs after the making up of bundles of lath for shipment.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will 'be understood that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claim.

I claim:

An expanded metal lath comprising ribbed portions extending from one side thereof and expanded integral portions, said ribbed portions being uniformly spaced and including an enlarged bell-shaped body portion integral with said expanded portions and an integral small beaded top portion and a fibrous load bearing backing sheet therefore secured to the lath on the side opposite to said ribs by means of the walls of the ribbed portions without piercing the sheet at that portion which is adapted to contact with the material to be reenforced.

GERALD G. GREULICH. 

